Use What God Has Given to You–Orphan Care

Caring for orphans takes a lot of work. It can be costly, difficult, risky, and makes you vulnerable. So many people think that it is too hard, that they have nothing to offer, or that orphan care is just meant for a small group of brave and crazy individuals. I believed that to an extent, but after recently reading the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25, I have come to think about orphan care a little differently.

Here’s a little breakdown of reflections on what I read in the Scriptures:

God gives us talents God gives each of us gifts, talents, something that he intends for us to use. He gives them to us for a reason, so that we can use them to multiply his purposes and his Kingdom. They are not meant to be selfishly hoarded or even kept safe. It can be risky, but He trusts us with his blessings and resources and we need to trust him to multiply them for his glory.

According to our abilities God gives us gifts according to our abilities. This is not an issue of fairness, it’s a matter of what God knows we are able to handle. He is gracious and takes each person at their own pace. It may be difficult to look at others and compare ourselves to those who seem to have more resources, more talents, or more money. But we need to trust God and accept that he has a reason.

Those with more, made moreThose servants who were given many talents, they were able to multiply them and make even more. It’s just like the principle of sowing and reaping… you need to plant the seed to be able to reap. When you use the talents, they will be multiplied.

The master was pleased God is so pleased when we are faithful with what he has given us. He is pleased when we trust him, and I believe he honors it by allowing it to multiply.

The master entrusted them with moreWhen God sees our faith, he will give us the chance to do even more. It could be more opportunities, more resources, more faith… whatever he gave will be multiplied. And he did so with joy. He will trust us with more work to be done, more gains to be made for his glory.

The one with the least hid itThe scripture says that the servant who was given the least was afraid. Who knows what exactly he was afraid of, but he was afraid enough to not do anything with the single talent he was given. Was he afraid he would lose it? Afraid he would disappoint the master? Afraid he couldn’t do as much as the others? Afraid his one talent wasn’t good enough? Afraid others would see him as inferior because he only had one talent? I think many of us can relate to the fears of this servant. We second-guess ourselves and question if God really wants us to use what seems to be insignificant. We may lie to ourselves and think that God already has more than enough and can do without our little talent. So we hide it, keep it away from the world, don’t use it for God’s kingdom… out of fear.

The master called him wicked & slothfulThis is where it gets serious. The master did not gently correct, forgive, or patronize the servant who didn’t use his talent. He was harsh. He was real. The servant was rebuked. How many times to we pass by opportunities to use our talents and think that God will not notice? He sees it all. I surely don’t want God looking down on me calling me ‘wicked and slothful’.

The master insisted he should have done somethingGod gives us talents to use them. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, he wants us to use them. He entrusts us with them and will give us opportunities to use them. Even if it wasn’t as big or extravagant or prosperous as the others, I believe God would be pleased with the littlest use of our talents.

The master sent him away & into the darknessThe servant who did nothing and hid his talent was not given another chance. He had one opportunity and when it was gone, he was no longer working for the master. What if we looked at our opportunities, resources, and talents in this way… if we did not use them then they would be gone? And then we would live in purposeless darkness for the rest of our days?

When I read this Scripture, I remember that orphan care is a command of scripture and every believer has some God-given talent they can use for the defense of the orphan.

Like the last servant, we may be tempted to think that what we have is not enough, we may be afraid it won’t compare to what others can do, we may hope that God won’t notice our inaction. But he does.

He is trusting you with what he has given you. And the promise that goes along with this parable is so encouraging… when we are faithful with the small things, he will give us even more. We may start out with not much to offer, but with faith and action, He will come to entrust you with much more!

Where do I start?

Start with what God has given you & use it to fulfill God’s command to care for the fatherless! (Click the underlined links below to use what God’s given you now!)